Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of OsijekFaculty of Agrobiotechical Sciences Osijek

Lower level organizational units

DEPARTMENT FOR ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

Place

Osijek

State

Croatia

Scientific field, discipline, subdiscipline

BIOTECHNICAL SCIENCESAgronomyAnimal Husbandry

Study programme type

professional

Study level

undergraduate

Study programme

Zootehnnology

Academic title abbreviation

bacc. ing. agr.

Genre

undergraduate thesis

Language

Croatian

Defense date

2014-10-14

Parallel abstract (English)

Sheep production in Croatia is based on indigenous breeds of sheep mainly combined production characteristics (meat, milk, wool). Therefore, the aim of this manuscript is to analyze the production properties and reproductive characteristic of the indigenous Croatian sheep breeds. The Republic of Croatia has 9 indigenous breeds of sheep: Dubrovnik sheep, Istrian sheep, Tsigai, Rab sheep, Cres sheep, Krk sheep, Pag sheep, Lika Pramenka and Dalmatian pramenka. Indigenous Croatian sheep are smaller, but harmonious and strong body composition (35–50 kg). Istrian sheep is stronger body composition, similar Tsigai which is also our heaviest indigenous breed of sheep (75 kg). Lambing index in indigenous Croatian breed of sheep is around 1.00, and the largest is in Lika Pramenka 1.02. The largest litter has Tsigai (1.19) and the smallest Dalmatian pramenka (1.01). Birth weight of male lamb’s indigenous Croatian sheep breeds ranging from 1.70 kg in Krk sheep to 5.27 kg in the Istrian sheep. The largest daily gain as well as the final body weight in the performance test has male lambs Tsigai sheep (0.350 g and 42.83 kg), while the smallest daily gain has lambs, Pag sheep (0.164 g), and the smallest final body weight lambs of Krk sheep (20.50 kg). Lika Pramenka has the largest average herd size (182), while the smallest Dubrovnik sheep (23). The lowest fertility has Rab sheep (100-120%), and the highest Tsigai sheep (140-180%). The indigenous Croatian sheep breeds are kept for meat production (lamb), and the only Pag sheep exclusively for milking and production of quality cheese.